Wheel-straightening machine



Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,216

E. s. INGHAM WHEEL STRAIGHTENINQ MACK- PINE I Filed Dec. 5. 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

FIG I INVENTOR. EDWARD S. INGHHM' BY W ATTORNE;

E. S. INGHAM STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Nov. 22, 1927.

Filed Dec. 5. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 II I lllT/ m mm EDWARD S. INGHHM INVENTOR.

v A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 22, 1927.

as. INGHAM WHEEL STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5.v 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. EDWARD S. INGHHM BY W ATTORNE project its rim port-ion laterally 'nstments of the wheel to true form,

Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES EDWARD S. INGHAM, OF PHILADELPHIA,

COMPANY, OF PH IILADELPHIA, PENN VAN IA.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BUDD WHEEL SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- WHEEL-STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

Application filed December 3, 1924. Serial No. 753,574.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of wheel straightening machines to which the adoption of the disk wheel has given birth. It is of especial utility in the straightening of disk wheels for autornobiles. While having this special adaptation, however. it will innnediately be obvious that .it has other fields of use as well.

There have been a number of such machines devised, however embodying a general generic principle and carrying out a generic method. Critical ad ustments are made in each case by clamping the central portion ofthe' wheel in such manner as to free in substantially the same manner as it would be projected when the wheel is mounted upon the vehicle and relieved from ground contact, and applying straightening pressure to the distorted portion along lines substantially parallel to the axis of the support. Certain of these machines have been adapted by inventors also to make non-critical adjustments, as for example approximate adand the relief of localized distortions not subject to relief by the generic method. This has been done by providing work-supporting tables adapted to support the work fiatwise or from points removed from the central portions, and co-acting with an overhead tool adapted to apply pressure thereupon.

My improvements are directed to increasing the facility of this latter adaptation in conjunction with the former, augmenting its convenience of use, generally simplifying the construction at large to such extent that the first cost of such presses is greatly reduced, and at the same time adapting the parts to arrangements in a rectangular frame of structural iron, which has proven to have great structural strength and rigidity.

These ends I attain by arran ing a worksupporting base transversely 0% the rectangular frame of structural iron intermediate its top and bottom, adjustably mounting a work-supporting table of variable over-all dimensions thereon for universal adjustment, mounting on the same work-supporting base adjustable relatively to the said work-supporting table a work-supporting center clamp, elevating the-clamp to project the rim portions of the wheel freely above the work table under all conditions of work, and arranging overhead a pressing tool to co-act commonly with both said table and clamp supports. I have by this construction attained in full the advantages which I have sought, all of which will be clearly apparent from the following detailed description:

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine showing the work clamp in use.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the work table in use the work being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows marked 44, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the lines 5--5 of Fig. 1.

The rectangular frame is composed of a pair of substantially vertical standards 10, 11, erected upon floor base members 12, 13, arranged transversely of their common plane. They are interconnected by a bottom stringer 14 comprising the bottom of the frame. The top of the frame comprises a pair of spaced rails 15, 16, interconnecting the tops of the standards 10, 11, and bolted to the side flanges thereof.

Intermediate the top and bottom of the rectangular frame composed of members 10, 11. 14, 15 16 are a pair of rails 17, 18, bolted, respectively, on opposite sides of the standardslO, 11, as are the top rails 15 and 16. These constitute a work-supporting base adapted to support the work from their upper edges or flanges, which edges or flanges are arranged in substantially an horizontal plane.

Carried by this work-supporting base on one side between standards 10 and 11 is a work-supporting table made in two sections 19 and 20. Each sectioniis secured to the top of the base by hook-ended bolts 21,engaging in holes in the dependingflanges 22 beneath the table top and having their oppo site ends pass through straps 23 which pass beneath the bottom of the base 17, 18. The bolts 21 are spaced laterally from the sides of the base 17 18 and each section 19, 20 of the table is therefore universally adjustable over the base, longitudinally by reason of the sliding connection of the mounting described, and laterally by reason of the spaced relation of bolts 21 with respect to the base 17, 18. At the same time these sections 19, 20

' may be adjusted relatively to each other to reduce the over-all expanse of the top of the table. This table is adapted to support flatwise, by its rim or other outer portions, an entire wheel to be worked upon, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Also carried by the base 17, 18 is a worksupporting clamp 24 including a block 25 slidably mounted longitudinally of base 17, 18 between the rails thereof. 'This block may be secured in any adjusted position by means of bolt 26 passing through-the trans verse under-stool 27. On its sides it is provided with aligning clips 28. In its top it carries a substantially vertical upstanding clamping bolt 29 and nut 30. By this bolt and nut there is secured to the top of block 25 the wheel-supporting fixture 31 adapted to have clamped to it a central portion of the wheel to be straightened in much the same manner as the wheel itself is clamped upon the hub of a vehicle. Indeed the fixture resembles a hub and'is provided with a spindle portion 32 immediately surrounding the clamping bolt 29, a base flange portion 33 by which this fixture is seated and aligned upon block 25, and a wheel-mounu ing flange 34 to which the central portion of the disk of the wheel extending to that portion secured to the hub of a vehicle is firmly clamped by a number of screws or bolts 35. A plurality of these fixtures 31 are provided in connection with each machine, one for each size and type of wheel being operated upon. Such wheels differ in the diameter of the clamped central portion and also in the number and size of the bolt holes by means of which they are clamped.

Mounted on the top rails 15, 16 to one side of'the center of the machine, that side occupied by the work-supporting table 19, 20, is a screw-operated pressing tool 36 also arranged substantially ve'rtically, and adapted to apply straightening pressure along lines substantially parallel to the axis of the mounting of the wheehto be straightened. This pressing tool is operated by the ratchet mechanism designated generally 37 and operated by handle 38 journaled on the up right 10 of the frame of the machine. This operating mechanism per se forms no part of my invention and need not, therefore, be described in detail. Its arrangement and mounting, however, enter intimately into combination with the other elements of my invention.

Operation is as follows: I

The wheel to be straightened having been examined by the operator, it is ascertained immediately whether there are localized distortions and indentations or general regional distortions or both, and furthermore, the degree of uch distortions is observed. Any

localized distortions or indentations may be corrected by placing the wheel upon the work-supporting table 19, 20 either flatwise upon its rim or upon suitable intervened supports and the proper application of pressure to the localized distortion or indentation made through the pressing tool 36 to first remove the same and restore the surface of the disk to approximately proper form.

In this operation, the work-supporting table 19, 20 can be adjusted atwill to the proper dimension and position laterally or longitudinally of the work-supporting base 17 to bLl most adequately support the wheel to meet the requirements of the particular straightrestoration can be effected while the wheel is upon the work-supporting table, such partial restoration is effected before removing the wheel from the table.

These actions having been taken, the Wheel is then placed upon fixture 31 and clamped thereon by the bolts 35, thus permanently fixing its central portion to the fixture. It is then given a turn or two about bolt 29 so that the point of application of pressure may be noted and ment with respect to the pressing tool may be made, whereupon bothclamping block 25 and fixture 31 are clamped in position by the securing nuts. Then pressure is applied through the tool 36 on a line substantially parallel with the axis of the wheel, as represented by securing bolt 29, a suflicient number of times at each chosen point to reotify the general and regional distortion of the wheel. In most instances, after the 10- Cali zed distortions and indentations have been removed, the complete straightening can be effected by applying ythese axially parallel pressures to various points of the rim of the wheel, but in other cases similar pressure is applied to various points on the disk of the wheel itself. In any case, whenever desired, the wheel may be rotated about its axis by merely loosening the clamping nut 30, and may be adjusted longitudinally of the work-supporting base 17, 18 at will;

Becausethe supporting clampis located immediately adjacent the work-supporting table, those portions of the wheel which project freely from it are projected over the table and beneath the pressing tool. Moreover, the relative elevation of the table and the work-supporting clamp and their rela-- tive arrangement with the pressing tool make it possible to make adyustments 1'9- proper radial relative adjustof the flanges being down-turned whereby gether lowered.

comprising a from their outer portions,

table top is planer Moreover, the adjacent flanges of pairs of to form the sections 19 and 20 of the table. In the case of the block 25, the inturned flanges at the bottom ride upon outturned flanges of the work-supporting base 17, 1.8, and at the top are interconnected by bridge block 25. So is the fundamental 'simplicity of my straightening machine augmented,'its lightness increased, and its cost The attached claims are to be interpreted in the light of the generic invention involved I claim:

1. A machine of tie character described comprising a work-supporting base, a worksupporting table carried by said base and adapted to. support a wheel fiatwise upon its rim, a work-carrying clamp'adjacent said base adapted to support a wheel from its central portion with its rim portions projecting freely, and a pressing tool overhang ing the base and arranged to co-act commonly with the table and clamp supports, respectively. 4

2. A machine of the character described work-supporting base, a work table carried thereby and made in sections relatively adjustable on said base to adapt it to support wheels of different sizes flatwise means to clamp said sections in adjusted position upon the base and a pressing tool arranged above the base and adapted to engage the work supported by said table.

.3. A machine of the character described comprising a work-supporting table adapted to support a wheel flatwise from its rim, an immediately adjacent work-supporting clamp adapted to clamp the central portion of the wheel, and a pressing too'l arranged above said work-supporting table and adapted to co-act commonly with said table and clamp supports, respectively.

the bars are connected tobetween said standards,

machine of the character described comprising a Work-supporting table adapted to support a wheel adapted to clamp the central portion of the wheel being worked upon elevated above the plane of the table sufliciently to project the '60 tobe worked upon flat- I WlSOfIOll'l its run, a work-supporting clamp rim of the wheel freely above said table in all working positions, and a pressing tool arranged above sald'work supports in, cooperative relation thereto.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of spaced base rails, a worksupport-ing table adapted to support the work flatwise from its outer portions, and a Worksupporting clamp adapted to support the work from its central portion, both .slidably mounted on said rails, and a working tool permanently mounted in overhead co.-operathe relation to sand work-supporting means.

6'. A machine of the character described comprising a work-supporting table adapted to support the work fiatwise from its outer portion, table and adapted to cooperate with the work thereon, and'a work-supporting clamp. adapted to clamp the work from its central portion with-its rim portions projecting freely, which parts are adjustable relatively to each other whereby supports may be operated upon by the same pressing tool. 1

7 A machine of the character described comprising a pair tending standards, an interconnecting worksupporting base, a work-supporting table carried between said standards on one side of saidbase, a work-supporting centerclamp carried by said base on theopposite side also and a working tool arranged in overhead relation to said. ele- Lnents and to one side of the center of said ase.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a work-supporting base, a work supporting table adapted to support a wheel fiat-wise at its outer portions and bodily adjnstable on said base, said table being formed EDWARD 8. IN

of spaced vertically-exthe work carried by the 

